Breast Atypical Apocrine Adenosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Kashuf A Khan,Firas Alkistawi,Abdalla Saad Abdalla Al-Zawi,Marina Barron,Philip Idaewor

doi:10.7759/cureus.8624

Abstract

Atypical apocrine adenosis (AAA) is a benign lesion of the breast that is identified more frequently today than in the past when it was considered a rare diagnosis and commonly misdiagnosed as other malignant lesions of the breast. AAA is defined as the presence of apocrine cytology in a recognisable lobular unit associated with sclerosing adenosis. We present a case of an incidental finding of AAA and discuss diagnostic challenges and their implications on clinical management.

Highlights

Some breast lesions are associated with apocrine phenotype features, such as atypical apocrine adenosis (AAA), apocrine ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and invasive carcinoma with apocrine features [1]
Breast AAA is defined as the presence of apocrine cytology in a recognisable breast lobular unit associated with sclerosing adenosis [2]
Breast AAA is of great importance to differentiate the histological picture of apocrine adenosis with atypia from cancerous and precancerous lesions as it may be misinterpreted as carcinoma

Summary

Introduction

Some breast lesions are associated with apocrine phenotype features, such as atypical apocrine adenosis (AAA), apocrine ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and invasive carcinoma with apocrine features [1]. Breast AAA is defined as the presence of apocrine cytology in a recognisable breast lobular unit associated with sclerosing adenosis [2]. The CT revealed only an incidental right breast small nodule (Figure 1). Her past medical history and family history were unremarkable. Her mammogram (Figure 2) revealed a well-defined soft tissue nodule measuring 11 mm in the medial part of the right breast (Breast Imaging, Reporting, and Data System [BI-RADS] grade M2). With p63 and smooth muscle actin (SMA) stains, the myoepithelial cells appeared mostly preserved with a degree of loss in the solid areas. The patient was advised to continue with the Breast National Screening Programme

Discussion

Conclusions

Disclosures